Method of sealing containers in the art of cracking hydrocarbons



Patented Aug. 18;, 1931 uiran STATES PATENT OFFICE;

EUGENE C. HERTHEL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBITO SINCLAIR BEFINIJH'G COH- IANY, OF NEW YOBJL-R'. Y A. CORPORATION 01 MAINE I METHOD OF SEALING CONTAINERS IN ART OF CRACKING HYDROOABBONS Ne Drawing.

' This invention relates to improvements in the operation of apparatus for the coking of heavy oils, suchas crudes, topped crudes, flux oils, other residual oils and the like. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in making a light joint in apparatus for carrying out such coking operations in which a charge of coke is formed and deposited within a coking receptacle from which this coke product must be discharged. Commerciall lump coke is more valuable than coke nes. The improvements of this invention assist particularly in increasing the production of lump coke and in decreasing the production of coke fines in such coking operations. Other advantages of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds.

The invention is particularly useful in connection with the operations described in applications Serial No. 340,996 filed Feb. 18, 1929 and Serial No. 341,214 filed Feb. 19, 1929 by Harry. L. Pelzer and Serial No. 347,533 filed Mar. 16, 1929 by- Edward W. Isom and George H. Taber, J r., but, as will be apparent, it is of more general application.

Most of the fines produced in such coking operations are produced, not during the coking operation proper, but during the discharge of the coke product from the coking receptacle, and such fines ar'e produced by the disintegration of what otherwise would be lump coke. This discharge of the coke product has been effected, heretofore,'in a number of ways ranging from the crude digging out of the coke product to more refined methodsinvolving the prearrangement of chains or cables within the coking receptacle so that, at the termination of the coking operation proper, the chains or cables extend through the body of the coke charge so that the coke product can be broken up within} the rece tacle and discharged by pulling out the c ains or cables.

In applications Serial No. 344,952 filed Mar. 7, 1929, by Oliver F. Campbell and Eugene C. Herthel and Serial No. 345,016 filed Mar. 7, 1929, by Willis S. Gullctte, there are described advantageous methods Application filed larch '1, 1929. Serial No. 344,940.

(of discharging the coke product of such'coking operations from the coking receptacle involving, in one aspect, the provision of cylinderical coking receptacles having heads. substantially the full diameter of the coking receptacle. This invention relates particularly to an improved method of making tight such large-diameter heads, that is heads upwards of 5' in diameter. The invention is of special value in connection with the operations described in these applications, but, as will be apparent, it is of more general application.

.1 According to this invention, when the cokingreceptacle is ready to be closed, a gasket consisting of a rope of heat-resisting fibrous material, such as asbestos, saturated with an organic substance dec0mpos-' ,ingat a temperature short of about 900 F. to leave a carbonaceous residue, such as molasses, glue, petroleum tars orcoal tars, rubber, etc., is put in place between the largediameter head and its seat on the cokin receptacle, the head is clamped in lace and then, as the coking receptacle is lieated to operating temperature, say 950- 1100 F.,

the organic saturant of the gasket rope carbonizes forming a tight joint between the head and the coking receptacle. 1 Where the head is seated on the lower side of the coking receptacle, sufficient petroleum tar or other residual petroleum stock to submerge the joint between the head and the coking receptacle may, with advantage, also besupplied to the coking receptacle after the head is clamped in place and before the heating operation is started. If a liquid saturant of suflicientl low viscosity is used, it may be applied directly to the gasket rope. If a liquid saturant of higher viscosity is used, it

may be applied to the gasket rope dissolved- 'vantageous to use large coking receptacles. A coking receptacle 9 in diameter and 30' high, for example, would require the tight sealing of a head 9 in diameter; it is extremely diflicult to make a vapor-tight joint between a head of such diameter and the coking receptacle with the best available mechanical structure. This invention, however, provides a simple method of making tight such large-diameter heads, and also re uires but simple mechanical structure.

claim:

1. An improved method of making a tightjoint between heads upwards of five feet in diameter and receptacles containing heavy hydrocarbon oils in which said oils are reduced to coke which comprises placing a' gasket consisting of a rope of heat-resisting fibrous material having the general properties of asbestos which is saturated with an organic substance which is at least in a liquid state and which decomposes at a carbonizable temperature short of 900 F. to

leave a carbonaceous residue between the head and its seat on the coking receptacle, clamping the head in place and then heating the coking receptacle to an operating temperature exceedlng 900 F.

2. An improved method of makin a tight joint between headsupwards of five feet in' diameter and receptacles containing heavy hydrocarbon oils in which said oils are reduced to coke which comprises placing a gasket consisting of a rope of heat-resisting fibrous material having the general properties of asbestos which is saturated with an organic substancewhich is at least ina liquid state and which decomposes at a carbonizable temperature short of 900 F. to leave a carbonaceous residue between the head and its seat onthe coking receptacle, clamping the head in lace, submerging the joint between the head and the coking receptacle beneath a petroleum residue and then heating .the coking rece tacle to an operating temperature exceeding 900 F.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EUGENE c. HERTHEL. 

